The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

WHEN a teenage girl gets pregnant, her future education and employment is often jeopardized. As a soon-to-be-mother, she often asks herself the question, how am I going to have a career? How am I going to support my child?

A recent partnership between a non-profit organisation and a corporate sponsor is helping to make it easier for young mothers to overcome the harsh realities of teenage pregnancy.

Working together, the PACE Foundation (Providing Access to Continued Education) and the Sandals Foundation are providing young mothers with skills, such as hair braiding and craft making, to help them find long-term employment in the future.

Heidi Clarke, director of programmes at the Sandals Foundation said the organisation is providing a stipend for part-time worker Sharon Farrington to teach the students the trades and skills, making their futures as bright as possible.

Sonia Brown, president of the PACE Foundation told Tribune Woman that Ms Farrington is well known as one of the first persons to offer braiding services in the Bahamas. Ms Farrington expressed an interest in teaching the students a skill that would allow them to be able to start up a small business or seek employment in the particular field, Ms Brown said.

"She began visiting the program in September of last year and was asked to come one day a week for a few hours. She saw that the need was great and the students were eager to learn so she added another day. She also provided all the material to get the program started," said Ms Brown.

An open house to showcase the work of the students will be held at the school next month.

"We are seeking support from salons to provide full or part-time employment for our students over the summer so they can further master their craft and earn much needed funds," said Ms Brown.

The crafts and skills taught at PACE can increase their chances of employment, providing a means for their children, said Ms Brown. She said hair braiding as a business can easily be set up at home and can provide full-time employment for some.

"For those girls who wish to pursue higher education in other fields they can use what they learn at PACE to provide a supplementary income," she said.

The organisation wants to fully explore craft making, as Ms Brown said it is a means to self-employment. She said PACE is looking for more corporate sponsorship to fund a second trainer to teach craft making.

"Teen pregnancy is an issue that most persons are conflicted about; having Sandals stand with us is very important," she said.

The Sandals Foundation is also partnering with the PACE to hold a Bingo and Charity Auction on May 25 from 7 pm to 10 pm at the Police Headquarters on East Street. The event is being held to help raise funds for the construction of an educational facility for the PACE Program.

Ms Brown said this is the third year that the Commissioner of Police has allowed the organisation to have the event at Police Head Quarters.

"We work very closely with the National Crime Prevention Office as we both agree that anything we do to relieve suffering helps reduce crime," Ms Brown said.